DRI officials seize foreign cigarettes worth Rs 1.63 Cr

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sleuths have seized 12 lakh foreign cigarettes worth Rs 1.63 crore arrived at V O Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin from United Arab Emirates.

Acting on a specific input, DRI officials intercepted a a container at Tuticorin yesterday that arrived from Port of Jebel Ali, UAE and examined cartons containing A4 Size papers manufactured by a Russian firm, a press release said.

"The total quantity of foreign brand cigarettes smuggled by the modus operandi was around 12 lakh sticks priced at Rs 1.63 crore", the release said.

The smuggled cigarettes were seized under the violation of Customs Act, 1962, the release added.